The Third Grave: A Riveting New Thriller

Lisa Jackson

Jun 2021 · Pierce Reed/ Nikki Gillette Book 4 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

A thrilling new crime novel from the bestselling author of You Betrayed Me, perfect for fans of Sandra Brown and Iris Johansen! Return to the dark side of Savannah, Georgia where a crime writer and her police detective husband are working a cold case, and hot on the trail of a killer whose work isn’t done.
 
The old Beaumont mansion is a rotting shell of its once-grand self, especially after a disastrous hurricane sweeps through Georgia. The storm does more than dislodge shutters and shingles. It leads to a grisly find in the cellar. Three graves. But only two skeletons…
 
For Nikki, the discovery is a gift, the perfect subject for her next crime book—though Reed has made her promise not to keep involving herself in dangerous police business. But despite the increasing tension between them, Nikki can’t stay away from this story. Rumors are widespread that the burial site is the resting place of the Duval sisters—three young girls who went to the movies with their older brother, Owen, twenty years ago, and never returned. Forensics confirms that the remains belong to Holly and Poppy Duval. But where is the youngest sister, Rose?
 
Owen Duval was, and remains, the prime suspect, alibi or no. But as Nikki and Reed delve deep into the mystery, fractures in the case begin to show. There is more to the sisters’ disappearance than anyone ever guessed. Far from an isolated act, those deaths were just the beginning. And there will be no rest, and no relenting, until the killer has buried the twisted truth along with his victims…
 

Ratings and reviews

The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson Pierce Reed/Nikki Gilbert Novel #4 I have read and loved Lisa Jackson’s books and have eagerly looked forward to reading what she writes but for some reason I could not connect with this story. I am not sure if it is because I don’t remember or haven’t read the previous three books in the series or if it is just this series that is not right for me. I just looked back over the past few years of her work that I have read and found that the more recent books have not resonated at all but that rereading her older books still do. I hope that her future books will be more my style. My thoughts: * Nikki: reporter, wife, pregnant, more interested in “the story” than in anything else. She takes risks that are crazy and more in line with someone half her age. I did not connect with her or even much like her. * Pierce: detective and husband, committed to his job, wishes Nikki wouldn’t infringe on his cases but understands her need go get “the story”. (I didn’t get it but he sort of seems to). * It took a LONG time to find out who the killer was and the motivation for the killings and then the additional killings seemed like…overkill, and it didn’t mesh and solidify for me for some reason. * This story was not Jackson’s best work, in my opinion, but I am hopeful that her next book will be perfect and will give it a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review. 2-3 Stars

It’s been a long time since the last book in this series came out so I didn’t remember a whole lot about Nikki and Reed except I know I loved it. I’ve been waiting it this authority get back to some of my favorite series and finally it’s here. This was a page turning suspenseful adventure. The relationship was a rocky ride. This author sure knows how to write a creepy suspense scene that will send chills up your spine and have you looking over your shoulder.

Three graves are found ... though only two skeletal remains are found within. The Duval sisters .... Holly, 12, and Poppy, 10, disappeared 20 years ago along with their 4-year-old sister who has never been found. The three girls went to the movies with older brother, Owen, and never returned. To this day, Owen is still the prime suspect. Crime writer / journalist Nikki Gillette and her Detective husband Pierce Reed are looking into this cold case. Nikki believes this will be the story that jump-starts her career. Reed just wants the killer ,, and the third victim ... found. What the couple find are many more questions than answers. There is more to the sisters’ disappearance than anyone ever guessed. Far from an isolated act, those deaths were just the beginning. And there will be no rest, and no relenting, until the killer has buried the twisted truth along with his victims… This story has been a long time coming. This series started in 2003, the last story was published in 2013. Any fans of this author will be thrilled to see this one in print. Although 4th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone, although i would recommend reading them in order. There's plenty of action, especially with Nikki putting herself in constant danger, much to her husband's annoyance. The reader is taken from the streets of today's Savannah to the old mansions still standing to the swamps filled with alligators. The plot is exciting, the suspense starts from the very first page and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion. The characters are richly drawn and I really enjoyed the blend of professional with the personal. It's a real page turner and there were times I just couldn't put it down. Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

About the author

LISA JACKSON is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy-five novels, including Paranoid: Liar, Liar; One Last Breath; You Will Pay; After She’s Gone;Close to Home;Tell Me; Deserves to Die;You Don’t Want to Know;Running Scared; and Shiver. She has over thirty million copies of her books in print in nineteen languages. She lives with her family and three rambunctious dogs in the Pacific Northwest. Readers can visit her website at www.lisajackson.com and find her on Facebook.